Walmart Canada Won't Follow U.S. In Banning Cosmo Magazine From Checkout Line

Cosmo "places women's value primarily on their ability to sexually satisfy a man," group says.

104

Canadian Press

Hearst

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has removed Cosmopolitan magazine from its checkout aisles in the U.S. but the retail giant says the policy won't apply in Canada.

The retailer says removing the magazine was primarily a business decision, but concerns raised by groups over the magazine's content were heard.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation says Walmart's decision makes it a "leader and trailblazer in corporate responsibility."

In a statement, the group says Cosmo "places women's value primarily on their ability to sexually satisfy a man and therefore plays into the same culture where men view and treat women as inanimate sex objects."

However, Walmart Canada says the decision applies only to U.S. stores.

"As with all products in our store, we evaluate our assortment based on customer response and needs," said Anika Mali, director of corporate affairs at Walmart Canada, in an email to HuffPost.

"In Canada, we offer Cosmopolitan to customers that wish to purchase the magazine in select checkout locations and within the store magazine section."

Though the magazine will no longer be available at the checkout line in U.S. stores, it will still be available in the magazine stand in those locations, Walmart says.